Latching device for rotatable bin sections



July 6, 1937. A. w. MUELLER LATCHING DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE BIN SECTIONS Filed Sept. 3, 1936 INVENTOR JRrHuR MUEL L ER Patented July 6, 1937 biiiilh STATE;

PATENT LATCHENG DEVICE FOR ROTATABLE BIN The Frick-Gallagher Mfg. (30., Wollston, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application September 7 Qlairns.

This invention relates to a latching device for rotatable bins and bin sections and has for its object to provide an improved simple yet durable and effective device for securely holding a rotat able bin section in a particular angular position against rotation.

Another object is to provide a latching device of this type which is self locking and yieldable.

Referring to the drawing 13 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a rotatable bin section to which this invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

This application is continuation in part of my prior application Serial Number 58,071 for R0- tatable bin, filed January 8, 1936.

A bin section it includes a bottom portion to which are secured dividers which may be of the type illustrated in the aforementioned application, said bin sections being rotatable about a stationary supporting post i i. The yieldable stationary projection i2 is adapted to be engaged within a recess l3 formed on the underside of one of the bin sections by means of a strip i l bent to provide bevelled side portions laterally of the recess it, said strip being spot welded to the underside of the metal bin section.

The portion of the projection received within the recess it may be of a shape corresponding to the shape of the recess, which in this case is illustrated as being substantially rectangular. Adjacent the periphery of the bin section the projection 62 has a handle portion ll which may be readily engaged and pressed downwardly to dis- 5 engage the latching projection from the recess for the purpose of permitting the bin to rotate. Adjacent the supporting post H the projection i2 is provided with' ahead or enlargement l8 while a threaded portion 119 extends through the supporting post it and is provided with a clamping nut for tightly holding the enlargement I 8 contiguous the post i I. As shown in Fig. 2, the projection i2 is mounted as a cantilever and is tapered outwardly so that its outer end portion may flex sufiiciently to be self engaging with the recess. That is, when the projection l2 engages the inclined portion on either side of the recess as the bin is rotated, the projection is bent downwardly until it can spring upward into the recess and hold the bin in a given angular position. The outer end portion of the projection being somewhat yieldable enables the projection to yield slightly after it has engaged the recess.

In event the bin section should be heavily loaded and possess substantial inertia the projection 3, 1936, Serial No. 99,188

l2 not only yields to engage the recess 53 but is also sufiiciently yieldable to prevent the moving bin section from too suddenly stopping.

It will be found desirable to provide a latch adjacent the underside of each bin section so that in order to rotate one bin section to gain access to some compartment it will not be necessary to rotate more than the one bin section.

I claim:

1. The combination with a rotatable bin sec- 1 riphery of said bin section, and a long yieldable radial projection fixed to and carried by said support and adapted to engage said recessed part to retain the bin section in a given angular position, said recessed part having bevelled sides between which the recess is located whereby said projection may be fiexed by engagement with said bevelled sides to engage said recess as the bin rotates.

3. The combination with a rotatable bin section, of a support therefor, and a latching device including a recessed part fixed adjacent the periphery of said bin section, and a long yieldable projection fixed to said support and adapted to engage said recessed part to retain the bin section in a given angular position, said recessed part having bevelled sides between which the recess is located whereby said projection may be flexed by engagement with said bevelled sides to engage said recess as the bin rotates, said support including an axially central supporting post about which the bin section may rotate, and said projection being anchored to said post as a cantilever.

4. The combination with a rotatable bin section, of a support therefor, and a latching device including a recessed part fixed adjacent the periphery of said bin section, and a long yieldable projection fixed to said support and adapted to engage said recessed part to retain the bin section in a given angular position, said recessed part having bevelled sides between which the recess is located whereby said projection may be flexed by engagement with said bevelled sides to engage said recess as the bin rotates, said support including an axially central supporting post about which the bin section may rotate, and said projection being anchored to said post as a cantilever, the outer end portion of said projection having a handle portion by means of which the projec- 5 tion may be flexed to disengage said recessed part, and said recessed part being located on the underside of said bin section.

5. The combination with a rotatable bin section, of a support therefor, and a latching device 0 including a recessed part fixed adjacent the periphery of said bin section, and a long yieldable projection fixed to said support and adapted to engage said recessed part to retain the bin section in a given angular position, said recessed 15 part having bevelled sides between which the recess is located whereby said projection may be flexed by engagement with said bevelled sides to engage said recess as the bin rotates, said support including an axially central supporting post about 20 which the. bin section may rotate, and said projection being anchored to said post as a cantilever, the outer end portion of said projection having a handle portion by means of which the projection may be flexed to disengage said recessed part, 25 and said recessed part being located on the underside of said bin section, said projection being sufficiently flexible laterally to be capable of serving as a brake to stop rotation of said bin section both during its engagement with one of the bevelled 30 sides of the recessed part and during its engagement with said recess.

6. The combination with a rotatable bin section of an axial and stationary supporting post for said bin section, a latching device for holding said bin section in a given angular position and including a bar fixed to said post and having its outer end portion adapted to flex as a cantilever adjacent the periphery of said bin section, and a member secured to the underside of said bin section adjacent its periphery and having a recess in which a portion of said bar is adapted to be received for holding the bin section against rotation, said member being provided with an inclined portion on each side of said recess for the purpose of automatically bending said bar downward as the bin is being rotated to engage the recess in said bar.

7. The combination with a rotary bin section, of an axial supporting post on which said section is mounted for rotation and a device for locking the bin section against rotation, said device including a flexible bar anchored to said post adjacent the underside of said bin section and extending to adjacent the periphery of its bin section, a member secured to the underside of said bin section adjacent its periphery and having a notch in which said flexible bar maybe engaged to cooperate with the sides of said notch and hold the bin section against rotation, said bar being adapted for disengagement from said notch to permit rotation of said bin section by bending the outer end portion of said bar downward, the said notched member being provided on each side of said notch with inclined sides adapted to assist in wedging the flexible bar downward to engage said notch, said bar also being laterally flexible at least to some extent.

ARTHUR W. MUELLER. 

